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    Home » Side Dish

    Cucumber Tajin Salad [or Snack]

    Aug 15, 2022 · 19 Comments

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    A quick, simple, and refreshing 3-ingredient cucumber tajin salad or snack made of cucumbers with tajin for a spicy, zingy, and delicious way to enjoy cucumbers year round and within just 10 minutes, too!

    completed Cucumbers with Tajin in a clear glass against a light background

    What is Tajin?

    Tajin is the (brand) name of a seasoning blend from Mexico that combines mildly spicy dried chili with dehydrated lime to add a spicy zing to any meal (or drink). It’s very popular to add a sprinkle of tajin over sweet treats, including fresh fruit (like watermelon, mango, and papaya) and fruity popsicles. Now, though, it’s the turn of cucumber tajin (aka cucumber salad).

    With just 3 ingredients and a handful of minutes to prepare, this cucumber dish is the ultimate low-effort snack or side for hot summer days. But it’s absolutely packed with flavor to boost the neutral and even sometimes bland flavor of juicy cucumber year-round for a delicious, low-effort, healthy snack.

    Even better, cucumbers contain several nutrients like vitamins C and K, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and antioxidants. Everything combined makes for an ingredient that can aid blood pressure levels, blood sugar levels, digestion, and more!

    Since it’s a fairly medium-level spice (made with a combination of chiles de Arbol, guajillo, and pasilla), this delicious cucumber seasoning may even impress your kids. Enjoy it at home or impress others with this delicious snack, appetizer, or side at potlucks, picnics, and BBQs!

    The Ingredient List

    With just three ingredients (plus optional salt), this cucumber tajin snack is ready to pull together at a moment’s notice.

    ingredients for Cucumbers with Tajin against a white surface
    • Cucumber: Use any cucumber. I prefer low-seed varieties, but any will work for this recipe.
    • Lime: Use fresh lime juice and optionally add some lime zest for extra zesty flavor. Lemon juice will work in a pinch.
    • Tajin: If you cannot find tajin, you could use a dried chile powder instead. However, the combination of chiles gives Tajin its signature flavor, so the flavor will vary based on what you use.

    I recommend chile de Arbol (mild-medium heat). Ancho chili powder or Morita powder could also work, or even hot paprika, for a smoky, spicy flavor.

    • Salt: Optional, added to taste.

    What Else Could I Add to a Cucumber Salad?

    The simplicity of cucumber with lime and tajin is delicious, but there are several ingredients you could experiment with for further flavor and texture.

    • Strawberries or mango: For the combination of sweet and savory, add some finely diced/sliced mango or strawberries to this side dish/snack.
    • Avocado: For a combination of texture, avocado will add a wonderful creaminess to the cucumber and tajin salad.
    • Red onion: Thinly sliced red onion will add a robust flavor. Soak the onions in ice water for 10 minutes to reduce some of the harsh, raw flavor if desired.
    • Cilantro: Minced and mixed into the tajin cucumbers.
    • Olive oil: If you plan to serve this as a cucumber salad, a drizzle of olive oil will finish the dish wonderfully.
    • Chamoy: Drizzle over a small amount of Chamoy (a spicy pickled fruit condiment) before serving.
    • Hot salsa: Like Valentina salsa—just a few drops over the top for extra spice and flavor.

    How to Make Cucumber Tajin Salad?

    There are just two steps to preparing this cucumber tajin snack in minutes.

    • 1) First, rinse, peel, and chop the cucumber and juice the limes.
    process showing the slicing of cucumbers

    You can cut the cucumber several ways, including spears for a snack, thin round cucumber slices, ribboned using a vegetable peeler, and even shredded, depending on your preferred texture.

    • 2) In a small dish, combine the cucumbers, lime juice, tajin, and optional salt, and mix until the cucumbers are evenly coated.
    sliced cucumbers in a bowl alongside halves of lime
    a bowl of tajin shown above a bowl of sliced cucumbers

    3) Finally, give it a taste and adjust any elements to your liking, then enjoy!

    I highly recommend serving this cucumber snack chilled, but room temperature will also work.

    Top Recipe Tips and Notes

    • Adjust the ingredient ratio: I.e., more or less lime or Tajin.
    • Don’t discard the lime zest: You can zest the limes before juicing them and save the zest in an ice cube tray in the freezer. You could also add some to the tajin cucumbers for extra zing.
    • Don’t discard the cucumber peel: You can snack on it, add it as a garnish to drinks, or even leave it on the cucumbers if preferred.
    • Adjust the texture: Change how you chop the cucumber. For extra crunch (and nutrients) in the tajin cucumber salad, only peel away sections of the cucumber peel, leaving some behind.
    completed Cucumbers with Tajin in a clear glass against a light background

    Storage Instructions

    As with any cucumber salad, it’s best to enjoy this cucumber Tajin snack/salad quickly before the cucumbers release too much liquid and become soggy.

    I recommend enjoying it within a few hours for the absolute best texture, though you could store leftovers covered in the fridge for an additional day (or two, if you’re lucky).

    Other Salad Recipes

    • Watermelon mint salad
    • Easy vegan Greek salad
    • Vegan mandarin chicken ramen noodle salad
    • Vegan smashed chickpea salad

    If you try this easy cucumber tajin snack recipe, I’d love to know what you think in the comments below. I’d also really appreciate a recipe card rating!

    Photos by Alfonso Revilla

    completed Cucumbers with Tajin in a clear glass against a light background

    Cucumber Tajin Salad [or Snack]

    This Cucumber Tajin Salad [or Snack] is quick, simple, and refreshing to make! It's made of cucumbers with tajin for a spicy, zingy, and delicious way to enjoy cucumbers year round all within just 10 minutes, too!
    5 from 47 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Salad, Snack
    Cuisine Mexican
    Servings 2
    Calories 36 kcal

    Equipment

    • knife set
    • measuring spoons

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cucumbers peeled and cut into spears
    • Juice of 2 limes
    • 1 ½ teaspoons of Tajin
    • Pinch of salt optional

    Instructions
     

    • Combine the cucumbers, lime juice, Tajin, and optional salt in a bowl and mix until cucumbers are evenly coated.
    • Best served chilled, but you can also enjoy it at room temperature.

    Notes

    • Don’t discard the lime zest: You can zest the limes before juicing them and save the zest in an ice cube tray in the freezer. You could also add some to the tajin cucumbers for extra zing.
    • Don’t discard the cucumber peel: You can snack on it, add it as a garnish to drinks, or even leave it on the cucumbers if preferred.
    • Adjust the texture: Change how you chop the cucumber. For extra crunch (and nutrients) in the tajin cucumber salad, only peel away sections of the cucumber peel, leaving some behind.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 36kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 223mgPotassium: 338mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 604IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword BBQ, cucumber, easy snack, healthy, healthy snack, lime, mexican recipes, party recipes, party snack, quick recipe, spicy, tajin, vegan, vegetarian
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @foodsharingvegan on Instagram!

    Disclaimer: Although foodsharingvegan.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Foodsharingvegan.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

    More Side Dish

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Andrea says

      August 15, 2022 at 9:28 pm

      5 stars
      the most flavorful and healthy snack! love it!

      Reply
    2. Katie says

      August 17, 2022 at 2:25 pm

      5 stars
      Obsessed with these Mexican cucumbers! They're the most addictive healthy snack!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        August 20, 2022 at 9:56 pm

        The best kind of snack!

        Reply
    3. Teodora says

      August 20, 2022 at 10:32 pm

      5 stars
      Simple and great!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        August 25, 2022 at 3:09 am

        Gotta love the simple ones!

        Reply
    4. Tina says

      August 22, 2022 at 4:02 am

      5 stars
      This is what snack dreams are made of! So yummy!!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        August 25, 2022 at 3:13 am

        Yesss! The ultimate crunchy snack!

        Reply
    5. Katie says

      August 22, 2022 at 1:04 pm

      5 stars
      This is the perfect snack! It's light and healthy and so delicious!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        August 25, 2022 at 3:14 am

        Right?! So light, satisfying, and refreshing all in one!

        Reply
    6. Rachel says

      August 22, 2022 at 4:10 pm

      5 stars
      I bought a huge thing of Tajin the other day and needed some recipe ideas—this cucumber salad is perfect!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        August 25, 2022 at 3:15 am

        Perfect!! It's such a great pair!

        Reply
    7. Tavo says

      August 22, 2022 at 5:45 pm

      5 stars
      Loved the cucumber salad! It was so refreshing! We served it with our Sunday grill yesterday and everyone loved it!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        August 25, 2022 at 3:15 am

        Love that!

        Reply
    8. Jess says

      August 23, 2022 at 12:44 am

      5 stars
      So delicious and refreshing

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        August 25, 2022 at 3:15 am

        Gotta love the easy snacks!

        Reply
    9. Gina H. says

      August 23, 2022 at 4:20 pm

      5 stars
      These spiced cucumbers are the best! So easy, wonderfully spicy and such a great way to get in more veggies.

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        August 25, 2022 at 3:17 am

        The ultimate veggie snack!

        Reply
    10. Janaye says

      August 24, 2022 at 3:17 am

      5 stars
      The perfect snack!!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        August 25, 2022 at 3:30 am

        Yess! So crunchy and healthy all in one!

        Reply

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